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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. HEUER. REPBATING WATGE.

No. 411,148. Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

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N. PETERS, Plmla-Ldhngmgmer. waahmgien. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. HEUER.

RBPBATING WATCH.

No. 411.148. Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

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ATTORNEYS.

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AUNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDOUARD HEUER, OF BIENNE, SVITZERLAND.

REPEATlNG-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,148, dated September 17, 1889.

Application iiled February 6, 1889. Serial No. 298,828. (No model.) Patented in France October 17, 1888, No, 192,640; in England November 14, 1888, No. 16,519, and in Switzerland November 15,1888, No. 9.

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDOUARD HEUER, of Bienne, Switzerland, have invented an Improved Rcpeating-lVatch, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent as follows: France, for fifteen years, No. 192,610, dated October 17, 1888; England, for fourteen years, No. 16,519, dated November 14, 1888, and Switzer-` land, for fifteen years, No. 9, dated November 15, 1888,) of which the following is a1 specification. F

The object of my invention is to produce a' repeating or striking watch which shall be. simple in construction; and the invention consists in the details of improvement and the combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in whichf Figure 1 is a face view, on an exaggerated scale, of a watch-movement, showing my improvements as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line c c, Fig. 1. Eig. 3 is a detail reversed face view of a portion of the side of the watch, (opposite to that shown in Eig. 1,) showing the hammers forstriking the gong or spring. Eig. i is a detail view of the let-oft lever. Eig. 5 is a detail perspective view ot' the pinion for actuating said let-oft lever. Eig. 6 is a detail of the hammer-actuating devices. Eig. 7 is a detail plan view, greatly exaggerated, of parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 8, on a greatlyexaggerated scale; and Eig. 9 is a View of part shown in Eig. 2,0n a greatly-exaggerated scale. In the accompanying drawings, the letter A represents a watch-movement frame, which may be of suitable construct-ion, and B is the winding-stein. The movement or mechanism for driving the hands and the spring for actuating the repeater parts are not shown in the drawings, as any suitable movement or drivinggear may be used; but l prefer that there be two springs to be wound up at the same time by the winding-stein B, one of said springs being used to actuate the part of the movement for turning the hands and the other of such springs to be used for actuating the mechanism of my repeater improvements.

The spring for actuating the repeaterimprovement-s is connected by suitable gearing with a pinion or wheel a., (see Fig. 2,) which wheel is suitably journaled in the movement and connected with the repeat-er mechanism, as hereinafter shown.

D is the minute-hand arbor, that carries a cannon-pinion b, which gears with a toothed wheel d, suitably journaled on the plate E of the watch-movement- The toothed wheeld gears with a pinion c, journaled on the plate E, which pinion or the arbor of said pinion carries a projecting lug f, that is beveled on its under side at g, as shown in Fig. 5. The pinion c is adapted to make four revolutions in one hour. The lugf or the bevel g on said lug is adapted to engage an incline or beveled edge or projection 7L on a lever F, that is hung on the plate E by a pivot t', supported .in suitable bearings on the plate E. As the pinion c rotates and its lug f engages the incline 7L on the lever F, the outer end of said lever will be depressed thereby and the other end ,j of said lever raised. The end jof the lever F reaches near to the arbor Z of the pinion or wheel a, and said end of said lever is situated between a pinion m, secured to a sleeve q, hung loosely on the arbor Z, and a finger or cam G, that is secured to said sleeve. The toothed wheel ct is secured to the arbor Z, and is provided with a sleeve n, that carries a number of ratchet-teeth o. These teeth 0 are adapted to engage similar teeth p on the sleeve q, so that when the teeth o lp are in contact the revolution of the pinion or wheel o. will turn the sleeve q, and thereby the pinion in and nger or cam G; but when said teeth are disengaged the sleeve qand its connected parts are free to be turned independently ofthe wheel a. The teeth o p are disengaged by the raising of the end j of the lever E, which, coming under the finger or cam G, lifts said cam and its sleeve q, so as to unlock the said teeth. The end j of said lever is raised when the lug f on the pinion e engages the incline h near the opposite end of the lever F and depresses the latter end of said lever. Normally the outer end of the lever F is raised and the end j lowered by a spring sp, as shown in Fig. 2. Said lever F may be actuated also by alever r, that is IOO hung at r6 on the plate E, and at its opposite end is beveled at s, Fig. 2, and adapted toengage a bevel t on the outer end of the lever F, whereby as the lever r is pressed against the outer end of the lever F said end of said lever F will be depressed. The lever fr carries a projectingshank u, that passes through the frame A, and is adapted to be engaged by the linger of the user for the purpose of actuating the lever F.

H is a toothed sector, that is secured to the sleeve q, and is actuated thereby. Thesector H preferably has twelve teeth for indicating the hours of the day. The teeth of said sector are adapted to engage a tooth fu, that is carried by a segment w, loosely hung on the arbor I of a hammer J. The hammer J is adapted to strike a gong-spring L, that is coiled around the movement and carried thereby. One edge of the segment w is adapted to engage a pin M, that is carried by the hammer J, and that extends parallel to the harbor I of said hammer and passes through a slot a2 in the plate E, whereby as each tooth of the sector H contacts the tooth v of the segment w it will cause the edge of said segment to press upon the pin M of the hammer J and move said hammer from the gong-spring L, and as said tooth t is released by the onward movement of the toothed sector the parts will be free to move, whereby a spring b2, that presses upon the pin M, will throw the hammer against the gong-spring L, to sound the same. These movements are given each time a tooth of the sector H engages the tooth t of the segment w. By this means the hours of the day can be indicated by a stroke of the hammer J. When-it is twelve oclock, the twelve teeth of the sector H will successively engage the tooth o and cause it to give twelve strokes to thehammer J; but when any other hour of the day arrives-say, for instance, six or three oclockonly six or three teeth of the sector H will encounter the tooth fr, giving lbut six or three strokes, as the case may be.

In order that the requisite numberof teeth on the sector I-I will be presented to the tooth v for the proper hour of the day, the pinion m on the sleeve q is geared with` a toothed sector d2, that is carried by a lever N, that is hung on the plate E. The lever N or the sector d? carries a projection e2, that is adapted to engage a snail-cam O, that is hung on the plate E. The snail-cam O has twelve projections or teeth f2, upon which the projection e2 is adapted to rest. Each Atooth f2 on the snail-cam O is at a different distance from the pivot of said cam than the next tooth; or, in other words, the circumference of the snailcam is made of twelve different planes, so .that when the projection e2 rests upon the third plane]2 the segment cl2 will have turned the pinion 'm suiiiciently far to bring three teeth of the sector H in position for actuating the tooth@ three strokes, thereby indicating three oclock. This is shown clearly in ion m a certain distance farther, and bringing another tooth (or, say, four teeth of the sector II) into position for actuating the tooth@ to actuate the hammer J. This turning of the snail-cam is kept up each hour until the plane f2 nearest the pivot of the cam comes in line with the projection e2, whereby the segment cl2 has been moved to its fullest extent, thereby bringing the twelve teeth of the sector H in line in position to actuate the tooth v twelve times to indicate twelve oclock. The snail-cam O is rigidly connected with a star-wheel P or the like, that is actuated by a pin or other suitable means carried by the minute-arbor D, so as to move the star-wheel the distance of one tooth or one plane f2 at each hour. As the sector H is being turned to actuate the tooth t, the pinion m, turning with the sector, moves the segment d2 inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, and against the tension of a spring g2, that bears against a pin h2 on the lever N, as shown. As soon as the end j of the lever F is raised to disengage the clutch o p, the spring g2, acting on the lever N, turns said lever in the reverse direction of the arrow, thereby returning the sector H to its normal position through the me. dium of the segment-rack cl2 and pinion m, ready for another forward movement to actuate the finger t.

The quarter-hour and half-hour are indicated by the strokes of the hammers as follows: On the arbor Z of the hammer J, above the segmentw, is a sleeve R, that has a tooth t2, similar to the tooth o. The sleeve R also has a proj ectionj2, (see Fig. 6,) that is adapted to engagethe pin M of the hammerJ to move said-pin through its slot @2in manner similar to its movement by the segment w. The sleeve R also carries a projection Z2, (see Fig. 6,) that is pressed upon by a spring m2, so as to hold the tooth 'i2 in its proper position. The spring m2 is also adapted to engage apin n2 on the segment w, so as to hold the edge of said segment in proper position with relationto the pin M. The tooth t? is adapted to engage three teeth 02 on the edge of a ringshaped lever S, that is suitably hung on the plate E. On the inner edge of the ring-shaped lever S is a projection T,'that is adapted to be engaged by the cam or linger G, so as to move the teeth o2 of the lever S into engagement with the tooth i2 at the proper moment, so that by turning the sleeve R the projection f, Fig. 6, will encounter the pin M and thereby move the hammer J. As the tooth c? slips otl its corresponding tooth 02, the hammer J will be released, and thereby be permitted to strike the gong-spring L to sound IOO to the spring L.

an alarm. A spring p2, by pressing against a pin q2 on the lever S, moves'said lever so as to carry the teeth o2 away from the tooth i2 and in position for engaging said teeth. The lever S also carries three teeth r2, similar to the teeth o2, which teeth are adapted to engage a tooth s2, carried by a sleeve 152, that is hung on the plate E. The sleeve t2 carries a projection b4, that is adapted to engage a pin T2, that projects through a slot a4 in the plate E, and is carried by a hammer U, similar to the hammer J. The arbor V of the hammer U is journaled in the plate E. A spring d presses against the pin T2 and holds it in contact with the projection b4. The hammer U is adapted to engage a gong-spring X, similar A spring d5, bearing against a shoulder of the sleeve t2, serves .to bring said sleeve back to its normal position after each stroke of the hammer U.

The movement of the lever S is regulated so that the quarter and half hours shall be properly indicated as follows: al@ is a-project-ion on the lever S, that comes against a cam or quarter-snail Y, that is carried by the minute-arbor D, as shown in Fig. 1. The cam or quarter-snail Y has its circumference made in four different planes, each of which is at a different distance from the pivot or arbor D. The cam or quarter-snail Y acts with the projection am and the lever S similarly to the cam O and the projection e2 on the lever N-that is to say, as the arbor D makes each quarter-revolution a differentk plane on the cam Y will be presented to thev projection am, thereby moving the lever S and causing one or more teeth o2 r2 to be presented to the teeth i2 s2, according as the onequarter, half, and three-quarters are to be struck. :Between one and fourteen minutes after every hour-that is, before the iirst quarter is due--the projection d10 on the lever S does not rest on the cam or quartersnail Y, but on the surprise, which is a similar piece to Y, under the cam Y, and prevents the quarters striking at all. The surprise is actuated every hour by a pin on the stai'- wheel P. Vhen the projection d10 is resting on the surprise and the quarters unable to strike, the teeth 112 and S2 and o2 and r2 are" disengaged.

The position of the parts is such that after the teeth of the sector I-l have actuated the hammer J to indicate the full hours the cam G will engage the projection T and move the lever S, thereby causing the first tooth r2 to actuate the tooth s2 and the iirst tooth o2 the tooth t2, and to make both hammers J and U strike their respective gongs nearly simultaneously, producing a double sound for the first quarter-hour. lf the cam G moves farther on, the half-hour will be indicated by the like action of the second tooth 02 and r2, and then the three-quarter hour will be indicated by the third tooth o2 and r2. After one hour and the fractions thereof have been indicated, and just before the next hour is to be indicated by tlie hammer J, the snail-cani O will be turned the distance of one tooth, which brings the lower plane f2 in line with the projection c2, so that an additional tooth on the sector H may engage the tooth e to indicate the next hour. After the hour has been indicated, the finger or cam Gwill contact the projection T and move the leverSto indicate the fractions of the hour, as before stated. Any time that it is desired to cause the watch to repeat, the projection u is pressed by the iinger, which will depress the end t of the lever F and raise the end j of said lever, thereby disengaging the clutch o Q) and permitting the spring g2 to return the sector ll and lever F to their original positions, when, on releasing such pressure, the parts will start and indicate the time of day by striking.

In order to stop the movement of the train that actuates the striking mechanism while the clutch o p is disengaged, a lever A2 is hung at c4 on the plate E, one end of said lever resting upon the lever F, while the opposite end of said lever comes under the escapement-wheel f1 of the striking-train. This escapement-wheel f* is connected by suitable gearing with the moving train, and it is provided with an anchor gt, that permits the escapement-wheel to move in proper time. The end of t-he lever A2 is kept in contact with the lever F by aspring 7b4. The normal position of the lever A2 is out of engagement with the eseapement-wheel f2; but when the lever F is depressed the end of the lever A2 in contact therewith is also depressed, while the opposite end of the lever A2 is forced by the spring h" into contact with the escapement-Wheel ft, and thereby said wheel is stopped, and thus the pressure on the pinion or wheel d by the mainspring of the train is counteracted while the clutch o p is disengaged; but when the parts are permitted to regain their norm al position-that is, when the clutch comes together againthe lever A2 releases the eseapement-wheel j and per- 'y mits the train to run to cause the watch to strike. As the pinion e rotates once in every quarter-hour, the lever F will be depressed to disengage the clutch o p once in every quarter-hour, thereby returning the sector H to its normal position four times in every hour.

ln order to prevent the striking mechanism from operating while the hands are being set, the hand-setting lever-spring A4 is adapted to engage a projection a on a lever b, that is hung on the plate E, the free end of which lever is adapted to come against the end of the lever N, so as to prevent said lever from moving. The lever b will come against the end of the lever N when the setting-lever A4 is pressed inward to set the hands, said lever A4 engaging the projection a, thereby moving the lever b and stopping the strikingtrain while setting the hands. Said strikingtrain may also be stopped when desired by means of a lever d, one end of which lever is adapted to press the lever b@ into engage- IOO IIO

ment with the lever N, while the opposite end of the lever d projects from the Watch-frame or case, and is adapted to be actuated by the finger of the user.

In order to prevent the projection f on the pinion e engaging or contacting the lever F while the hands are beingset, the end of the lever A4 is adapted to engage the inclined end t of the lever F when the -lever A4 is moved to set the hands, and thereby to depress the lever F.

Having now described my invention, what I claim isl. The pinion e, having a projection f, and means, substantially as described, for turning said pinion, combined With the lever F, to be actuated by said pinion, arbor l, carrying teeth o, pinion or Wheel a, and means, substantially as described, for actuating the same, and the sleeve q, having teeth p and toothed sector H, and means, substantially as described, for returning the sector when the teeth o p are disengaged, substantially as specified.

2. The pinion or Wheel a and means for turning the same, its arbor l, and teeth o, in combination with the toothed sector H and teeth p, connected therewith for engaging the teeth o, and With the hammer J, and tooth c, connected with said hammer, said tooth being actuated by the toothed sector H, and means, substantially as described, for returning said sector to the actuating position when the teeth o p are unlocked, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a driving-train of gearing and a pinion or Wheel a in said train, a clutch actuated by the same, and a toothed sector connected With said clutch, with a hammer and gong, a pin carried by said hammer, a segment adapted to contact said pin to turn the hammer, and a tooth fu, connected with said segment to be actuated by the toothed sector, and with mechanism, substantially as described, for returning the toothed sector to the actuating position when the clutch is un-` locked, substantially as described.V

4. The combination, With a driving-train containing a pinion or Wheel 0;, a clutch driven by said wheel, and a pinion m, connected with said clutch, ot' a toothed rack or segment gearing with said pinion and a spring for moving said rack in the reverse direction to its movement by the driving-train when the clutch is unlocked, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the lever F, having the incline h, and the pinion e, having the proj ection f, to engage said incline, and means, substantially as described, for actuating said pinion With a driving-train having a pinion or wheel a and a clutch connected with said Wheel, a pinion connected with said clutch, a toothed rackor segment gearing with said pinion, and a spring for moving said rack or segment in the reverse direction to its movement by the driving-train, the projection f on the pinion e. actuating the lever F to unlock the clutch,- substantially as described.

6. The pinion or Wheel a and its driving mechanism, and the clutch o p, sleeve q, toothed sector H, and inger G, carried by said sleeve, combined with the hammer J, its arbor I, the pin M, carried by the hammer, the segment w, having tooth c, sleeve R, having tooth 2 and projection f2, lever S, having teeth o2 and projection T, and with mechanism, substantially as described, for returning the sector H and lever S to their actuating position, substantially as described.

7. The pinion or Wheel a and its drivingtrain and a clutch connected with said Wheel, a segment-rack and a pinion driven by said Wheel, a hammer J, and a tooth o, connecting said hammer With the sector H, combined with a lever N, having a segment-rack d2 and a projection e2, and with a cam O, having a series of unequal projections or planes f2, adapted to be engaged by said projection e2,

and mechanism, substantially as described,

for turning the cam intermittently to present a diferent plane to the projection e2, all arranged for operation substantially as described.

8. The pinion or Wheel a and its drivinggear, a clutch connected with said Wheel, a toothed sector, a pinion, and a finger or cam G, connected with said clutch, a hammer J, having apin M, a segment w, having a tooth o to-engage said sector, a sleeve R, having a tooth 2, and a projection j2, combined lWith the lever S, having teeth o2 to engage the tooth t2 and a projection T to be engaged bythe iinlger or cam G, and with the lever N, having segment-rack d2, engaging the pinion on the clutch, a projection e2 on said lever, and a cam O, having a series of dierent planes f2, means, substantially as described, for turning said cam, and means, substantially as described, for disengaging the clutch and turn ing the parts in the reverse direction to their movement by the Wheel a, substantially as specified.

9. The lever F and means, substantially as described, for rocking said lever, combined with a driving mechanism having an escapement-Wheel f4, and With a lever A2, that rests 'at one end against the lever F, and that is adapted to contact the escapement-Wheel f4 when said lever F is depressed, and with a spring h4 for holding the lever A2 in contact with the lever F, substantially as described.

10. The lever F, having the incline t, combined with a hand-setting lever A4, adapted to engage said incline, and thereby to depress the lever F, substantially as described.

11. The hand-setting lever A4, combined with a lever b, having a projection a to be engaged by the lever A4, and with the lever N, adapted to be contacted by the lever h6 to stop the movement of the lever N, substantially as described.

l2. The lever b and the lever N, adapted to be engaged by the lever b, combined with the IIO lever d, one end of saidleverdbeing adapted to actuate the lever b, the opposite end of said lever (Z6 passing through the casing of the Watch to be engaged by the finger of the 5 operator, substantially as described.

13. The hammer U, journaled in the plate E, and having a pin T2, that passes through a slot in said plate, the arbor of the hammer having' the tooth S4, and the projection h4,

1o combined with the lever S, having the teeth r2 to engage the teeth s4, and with mechanism, substantially as described, for oscillating the lever S to aetuate the hammer U, substantially as described.

The above specification signed by me this 15 13th day of October, 1888.

EDOUARD HEUER. Vitnesses:

S. CoLoWE, Jr., D. WEISS. 

